Parents

Parents and mental health

While parenting can be very rewarding, we at Melo know how challenging it can be to balance all the demands parents and carers have to cope with.  This can take its toll on your physical and mental wellbeing.  Every family experience difficulty from time to time.  Sometimes it can be difficult to think about what information or help you need.

If you are experiencing low mood or feeling depressed, or worried about a child in your care experiencing these feelings, then it is important to reach out for help.  Speak to a friend, family member or a health professional see the section below ‘if you need further help’.

Looking after yourself as a parent

Becoming a new parent is a big change and big changes can be challenging.  They can affect how we feel.

Following the birth of a baby some women can experience feeling low and emotional. This can occur 2 to 3 days after childbirth.  It is often mild and perfectly normal.  You might hear people call it the ‘baby blues’.  If these symptoms last longer than a few days or start later, you should talk to your midwife or health visitor.

Some new mothers can experience postnatal depression. Postnatal depression symptoms can occur days, weeks or even months after the birth of your baby and affects 1 in 10 new mothers.  You might feel sad and low, tearful for no reason, worthless, tired, unable to cope, irritable and angry, guilty, hostile or indifferent to your husband or partner or hostile or indifferent to your baby.

If you feel you have symptoms of postnatal depression then you should speak to your Health Visitor or GP who will be able to organise extra support for you if you need it.

Self-help advice for parents

•Finding time for yourself can be really difficult as a parent/carer. However, it is really important as a parent to have some time to yourself and do something for yourself. You shouldn’t feel guilty. Taking time for yourself is not only valuable for you but also valuable for your child. It helps them learn the importance of self-care and self-compassion. It also helps you recharge, which can bring a sense of calm and/or renewed energy, making it easier to cope with the more challenging parts of being a parent!

There are steps we can all take to protect and look after our mental wellbeing:

• You may be able to fit some of the ‘Five Ways to Wellbeing’ into your day.
• If you are struggling with your feelings, please be assured this is normal. You might find it helpful to talk to your family and friends about how you are feeling. Or reach out to your Health Visitor or GP. Or see our resources, courses and helplines below.
• You might find the information on our Mindfulness page useful.
• Or try one of our free meditation or mindfulness
• If you are a new parent, you may find it helpful to join a parent and toddler group in your local area. Ask your Health Visitor, or see our ‘in your area’ page for more information on local activities.
• If you are a new parent, why not try one of our free ‘Living Life to the Full’ courses. Many parents have found them useful.
• If you are parenting a child who has complex needs, you may find some of these resources useful: Children with complex needs – Healthier Together
• If you are a parent of an older child/teenager and worried about their mental health, see our SilverCloud courses, listed below. We also have a range of information on our website which might be helpful as a parent of a teenager, for you or another parent, such as information on self-harm, suicidal feelings, gambling, LGBTQIA+
• Visit the Healthier Together website which contains a range of information and advice for parents/carers. Find this resource below. Healthier Together
• If you are worried about money then visit our Money Worries page for advice. If you are pregnant or have a child under 4, you may be entitled to additional support for fruit, vegetables, milk and vitamins.
• If you or someone you know need urgent help – go to our urgent help page immediately

If you need further help

If the information, advice, resources and courses on this page have not been helpful and/or you think you need more help, there are many free support services available. See our helpline section below for specific services that support parents/families/young people.

For non-urgent support for your child if they are pre-school, please visit this link to find out how to contact your Health Visitor Health Visitors – Healthier Together.

For non-urgent support for your child if they are school aged, please visit this link to find out how to contact your School Nurse School Nursing Contact Map.

If you live in the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board area, need help with your mental health and are over 18, ask for an appointment with a Psychological Health Practitioner (PHP). PHPs are based in every local GP surgery. Or contact your GP.

If you are under 18 or worried about someone aged under 18 and need advice/self-referral to local mental health and wellbeing services in the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board area, contact SPACE-Wellbeing.

Or alternatively contact another approved helplines. Some services are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.